I am Reading

Each Sunday as I am working on our family blog. I am also working on the various scrapbook projects. Last Sunday happened to be the girls school yearbooks. Reganne started looking at hers for kindergarten. She quickly exclaimed Mom where did you get all this stuff. I asked her what she thought I did with all the projects she brought home each day. Her reply was you throw them all away. Yes, I do throw alot away since they bring home so much daily. I answered back that I keep all the best stuff for her to keep and look at. She decided to test me and asked for her treasure box that they were given at the first of year to keep all their books that they make during the year.

I handed her the Treasure Box (envelope) and she started going through them one at a time.

Mom, I am reading!!!!

Listen to me Mom, I can tell you the alphabet too.

I felt bad that she thought I wasn't keeping anything. Yet watching her look through the book and read to me quickly replaced the bad feeling. A smile quickly replaced it as I realized how much she has grown up this school year.

President's Weekend

Each year this weekend starts the exodus to Sunny St George. Each weekend our town fills ups with visitors hoping to enjoy the sun for weekend before returning home to winter weather. This year has been no different. Much to everyones surprise Friday was a gorgeous day full on sunshine and warm temperatures. Saturday we woke up to rain, wind, and cold winter weather. 5:00 pm arrived and so did the sun and mud. The skies cleared out and it promised to be a beautiful day on Sunday. Mother Nature fooled us again and we woke up to more rain.

After church we were greeted by a downpour. In the five minute drive home it started to snow. We are talking huge snow flakes that looked really pretty, but are not sticking. The snow doesn't show up in pictures. So take my word for it.

So much for sitting by the pool getting some sun. The visitors this weekend will need to come back and visit again for that.

Happy Valentines Day

The excitement has been mounting in anticipation for Valentine's Day. The girls have been talking and planning for weeks what they were going to do for their friends. The whole 3rd jumped in with everyone needing a special valentine. Much to the dismay of most of the parents they are much too young for that. They made their out their cards and add candy. They were ready come Monday morning.

They woke to this surprise hearts, candy, and a family movie. Ryder shouted for joy Santa Claus came Mom!!!! No Dad & Mom did instead.

Special hearts & treats

Yeah finally we have this movie.

Off to school to parties and lot's of goodies. Here are their boxes & bags fully decorated.

After dinner we made heart shapped music boxes.

The kids had a blast celebrating a day full of hearts & love. There was too much candy and treats leftover.

I can do it myself !!!

I am learning to really hate this latest phrase. Ryder repeats it daily, hourly, and if I am really lucky by the minute. This week has been full of it. Going potty, showering, dressing, and going to primary. The one draw back is I am not sure when it is going to appear or if he really means it. He reserves the right to change his mind and then change it back again. He wants to change clothes constantly if they get the slightest bit wet or dirty. I thought making him do it himself would change his mind. However, just the opposite happens and his drawers are emptied out until he finds just the right outfit.

Today in sacrament meeting he announced that he would walk to primary by himself. He didn't need anyone to help him. Dave & I exchanged that look and I then followed behind him. Not to close so as to not offend him. He marched down the hall and right into primary. He looked around and then proceed down the aisle to his row. He was the first person there and climbed up on the chair. He waited for his teachers and friends to arrive.

Afterwards I asked his teachers how he was. Great they replied and even talked today. He told them about seeing baby Jesus at Christmas.

He maybe small but don't be fooled into thinking he is not a big boy.

Little Valley Elementary Choir: Valentine Concert

The choir was invited to participate in a special Valentine Concert with James O'Neil Miner. He is the father of the choir director Mrs. Kohler. He heard the kids at their Christmas Concert and invited them to be a part of his show. They were so excited to have the chance to sing. He asked them to sing the Star Spangled Banner, Hot Chocolate, and Love will Keep Us Together. Their performance was great even the Star Spangled Banner that they only learned the week before. The comments I heard was much better that the Super Bowl. I tried to snap a couple pictures inside the auditorium, but they didn't turn out.

We had an Ah moment when we entered the concert. When Rylee was probably 3 years old at the Dicken's Festival held each December there was a man playing the piano. Rylee became so fascinated by him. We couldn't drag her away she just had to listen. She then turned to me and told me she wanted to play like him. The poster they had of James O'Neil Miner was the same one from that night at the Dicken's Festival. He is a little grayer and older, but still plays beautifully. I am not one for this type of music, but I could listen to him forever it is so peaceful.

However, the next time I won't take Ryder & Reganne they had a hard time being quiet and sitting still.

Little Valley Elementary Choir: PTA Concert

Thursday, February 10th was the Annual Harmon's PTA Night. Harmon's sponsers a group of elementary schools and the proceeds from this night goes back to each school. They do this all over the state. Our school happens to be one that allow to participate. This year our PTA asked if the choir would sing a couple of songs. How do you fit 103 students, choir director, parents, siblings, and shoppers in the floral dept? Answer very carefully. They sounded really good under the circumstances. More importantly they had fun and were able to play the games and have treats afterwards.

Ready...Set...Are you watching??

Marching in one by one

Let's Sing!!!

Over the River and....

Up I-15, through the wind and blizzard to Grandma's House we go. As we traveled to the funeral Dave wanted to drive so we could be on our own schedule and not the airlines. We left St George with blue skies and warm temperatures. As we drove along the colder it became. We met the winds after Beaver, we were greeted by the blizzard at Nephi. Who needs to see to drive? We didn't the visiability was so poor that we followed the semi's around us in a single line. Once we reached Santaquin it cleared up and we were able to drive the rest of the way in peace.

This is the front grill of the monster truck full of snow & ice.

New Cousin - Evelyn Venita Hardinger

One of the high points of the funeral was finally meeting the newest member of our family Evelyn Venita Hardinger born in December. She is such a cutie and from what we could tell a very good baby. The girls were in heaven to see a new baby and to get to hold her.

Reganne, Evelyn, and Rylee

Rylee & Evelyn


Super Mom... Sharai, Cousins Amy and Lindsey

Sharai is really a super woman delivering this sweet baby without an epideral. We look forward to spoiling her. Too bad she lives on the other end of the state.

Grandpa Henderson

This past weekend we traveled to Spanish Fork for the funeral of Grandpa & Great-Grandpa Henderson. He passed away in his sleep on Friday, February 4, 2011. He was 95 years old on December 31st. He was a good man and a great example to everyone around him for hard work. He was always busy doing something and had a part time job well into his eighties. He grew the best garden and had the most wonderful tomatoes.

Ralph I Henderson

1915 to 2011

Bobbie Henderson the family viewing

Travis Miller, Lloyd Miller, Ted Henderson, Darrold Miller, Jared Henderson, Rick Henderson
Pall Bearers



Sharai Hardinger and Dorian Pia...Cemetary

Rylee, Kaye Miller, Rex Henderson, Jennie Henderson

Father & Son are together again... Are they hunting?

Ryder "Mom there's a hole under there? What are they going to do to Grandpa?"

So many questions will they ever stop? I only wish I had answers to half of them. Ryder asked as we were half way home. "Who is going to get Grandpa out of the hole when he wakes up?" Dave & I looked at each other trying to find the right answer. We told him that Jesus would when he comes again. "When will that be? In a couple of days?" I sure hope I have more time than that.

It was a great service and it was fun to see all our family and spend sometime with them.

Mini Vacation: Cedar City

This was Dave's weekend off and we try to plan a fun activity or mini-vacation. This weekend we decided to go back to Cedar City and play in the snow. Nothing prepared us for the bitter cold when we arrived and got out of the monster truck. The wind was blowing or howling through the trees. After bundling everyone up the fun began. The snow was a little icy so it was hard to walk on at first. Ryder walked very timidly not wanting to fall in the snow again. He kept reminding us that he fell last time. The girls & Dave soon discovered snow caves made scouts I would imagine. The climbed around and played.

Don't eat the yellow snow !! I had to be quick with this instruction. Reganne was just as quickly picking it up to taste.

Snow Caves

Snow Bridge

I walk slow Mom, I don't want to fall in.

Climbing around the caves.

The cold soon took it's toll with freezing hands, wet pants, and runny noses.

We were on our way home with the heater running full blast.

All I want for Christmas...

Is my two front teeth! I don't think it's going to be that long. Tuesday afternoon I was greeted by this overwhelming site. How two little tiny teeth could leave such a large hole? Reganne pulled her other tooth out during Kindergarten. She was so proud of herself for doing it by herself. She asked me that night as she was flossing & brushing her teeth "How do I floss my teeth now?" The same way I replied. But Mom? She tried it and was surprised that it really hadn't changed.

She is now fascinated with her teeth. She can see the new tooth breaking through the skin. Her speech teacher has her work cut of for the next couple of months. She tried working on her homework and asked me where she was supposed to put tongue now that her teeth are gone.

Family Night: Bird Houses

We actually followed through this week and built the bird houses from the Bird Festival. The kids were so excited to not only build them with their hammers, but to paint them. I had instructions when buying the paint. The colors and to be pink, purple, silver, and blue. I added yellow to the mix just for a variety.

Ryder waiting patiently for Dad to finish screwing on the bottom.

Reganne painting so carefully each color.

Rylee jumped right in... She knew exactly what she wanted to do/

The finished product. Won't the birds love these new houses to live in?

New Project - Homemade Rolls

I can't explain my latest desire to make homemade rolls. We are not talking about Rhodes Rolls that you set out at night and are ready in the morning. But the old fashioned way with yeast, flour and lots of mess. I have had issues with yeast and killing it. Once that was fixed we then moved onto why they won't raise. Solved that issue by reading and watching clips on making bread. My house is to cold so it needed to turn the heat up literally. This was the final product.



I was so excited to serve them at dinner. The only one that ate one besides me was Ryder. He loved them. They were to heavy and tasted like pizza dough. These were a couple of responses. I was devestated until I took them to work the next day everyone loved them and devoured them.

Well this week I am trying a new recipe and hopefully this one will be the one that will please everyone and they will at least eat them.

It's Official....

Ryder is completely potty trained.


The final milestone was hit on Monday Morning at 5:00 am. We were greeted to Ryder standing in our doorway telling us he needed to go to the bathroom. He called first for me, but I didn't hear him. Then he called for Dad. Dave got up with him and then he went back to bed. He refuses to wear a pullup to go swimming or sleep at grandma's house. He tells us those are for babies and he is not a baby but a big boy. He quickly tells us that he can dress himself, go potty by himself, and shower himself. Two out of three we have let him try. Showering Dave stands there by him, but lets him use the shampoo and soap.

I knew this day would come. But not so fast!!! He came up to me and put his arm around my neck and said Mom, you are my sweetie pie. Wow! is that one way to melt your mother's heart.

Another One Bits The Dust !!

Tooth that is. Reganne's top front teeth have been wiggly for months now. Each time they start getting to wiggly she stops playing with them. Friday morning as she got ready for school she kept playing with her tooth until it could almost spin around without coming out. I knew we were near the end since there was a little blood on her finger and chin. I thought I was the only one who could not pull out their kids teeth and wiggly teeth really gross me out. I couldn't even pull my own out. They had to fall out by themselves or pushed out by the new teeth. That could be my teeth have never been straight.

As I was dropping the kids off at daycare. Reganne smiled up at me with her tooth twisted sideways. I gave her a plastic bag to keep the tooth and a kleenex to wipe her hands on.

This is the sight that greeted me 2 hours later. She kept playing with it and Ms. Ashley showed her where she had her tooth pulled the night before. Reganne twisted it the other way and it was out. They were both going to have visits from the tooth fairy. The tooth became show and tell for kindergarten. Reganne kept it with her until bedtime. She then cleaned up her room so the tooth fairy could find it and then she was ready for bed.

The next morning she discovered that the tooth fairy left a dollar and took her tooth. Wait...She wanted 2 dollars and her tooth to play with. I reminded her that the other tooth is almost ready to fall out and then she could get another dollar. However, the tooth fairy always keeps the teeth.

The the question came that all parents dread. What does she do with the teeth? Any ideas?

Ryder is now trying to wiggle his teeth to find one so that he can get a dollar.